NPLB14027U Analytical Chemistry

Volume 2024/2025
Education

BSc Programme in Biotechnology
BSc Programme in Chemistry 
BSc Programme in Food Science
BSc Programme in Natural Resources
MSc Programme in Biotechnology with a minor subject
MSc Programme in Chemistry with a minor subject
MSc Programme in Environmental Science

 
Content

The course topics include: An introduction to analytical chemistry: choice of analytical methodology, sampling, sample preparation, chemical analysis, tools for quantitative chemical analysis, quality assurance. Extraction methods such as liquid-liquid extraction, solid phase extraction, super-critical fluid extraction and pressurised liquid extraction. Cleanup and fractionation methods. Introduction to Chromatography, high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC) and other chromatographic methods. Detector types with focus on mass spectrometry and hyphenated techniques such as GC-MS and LC-MS. Introduction to spectroscopic methods (UV-VIS, IR, X-ray, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry). Introduction to data processing, errors in chemical analyses, statistical analyses (including chemometrics) and data presentation. Method development, evaluation, validation and QA/QC measures.

Compulsory laboratory exercises comprise projects which involve sampling, extraction and cleanup, methods of analysis, data processing and data evaluation.

Learning Outcome

The course objective is to introduce the participants to modern instrumental techniques and analytical approaches within environmental- and soil chemistry, food chemistry and plant biology.

After completing the course the student should be able to:

Knowledge:
Describe the theory of sampling, sample preparation and sample preparation techniques
Refer to the chemical theory behind the use of modern instrumental techniques for quantitative chemical analysis
Describe how to identify unknown compounds by mass spectrometry and to measure their concentrations in environmental and food samples

Skills:
Develop and apply methods for separating chemical compounds in mixtures using chromatography
Perform quantitative chemical analysis of organic compounds and metals
Apply solid data processing and evaluation of analytical data

Competences:
Develop, validate and apply analytical methods in different field of research
Evaluate and discuss analytical chemical data from the literature.
Do problem solving in analytical chemistry

Literature

Daniel C. Harris: Quantitative Chemical Analysis

Compendium for laboratory exercises, handouts and electronic resources.

Details will be announced on Absalon.

 

Lectures and theoretical exercises: The lectures will present the general chemical background of the measurement principles and instrumental techniques as well as theory on sampling, data processing, data analysis, quality assurance and method validation.

Theoretical exercises: These exercises will train the students to carry out calculations on the data produced from different instrumental techniques including statistical analyses, reporting and QA/QC.

Laboratory exercises: Laboratory exercises represent the heart of the course. Here, the participants train the different instrumental techniques and get used to analytical work in the laboratory. The laboratory exercises comprise 6 compulsory themes. Theoretical and laboratory exercises are performed by groups of 2 or 3 students. A 1-day excursion to a larger accredited laboratory is included in the course.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 28
  • Class Instruction
  • 8
  • Preparation
  • 106
  • Theory exercises
  • 28
  • Practical exercises
  • 24
  • Excursions
  • 8
  • Exam
  • 4
  • Total
  • 206
Written
Oral
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 20 min.
Type of assessment details
The oral examination will focus on practical aspects of analytical chemistry. 20 min exam with 40 min preparation.
Exam registration requirements

Minimum 75% of the reports from the laboratory exercises need to be accepted by the course teacher before final examination

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
One internal examiner
Re-exam

As the ordinary exam. 

There can not be dispensated for the requirement of laboratory exercises, and students who do not fullfil the requirement has to follow the course the following study year.

Criteria for exam assesment

See learning outcome